Red River follow-up: What happened with Fox?
Louisiana’s Red River is nasty this time of year. There’s really no way to put a good face on it. Kyle Fox learned that firsthand this week.”I’ve never seen anything like it,” says the 19-year-old professional and 2006 Junior Bassmaster Championship qualifier. “I’m from Florida, and things look different down there. The navigational buoys are under water here and the current in the main river is so swift my trolling motor is useless. It’s been a wild two days.”
Despite the tough conditions, and his lack of experience dealing with them, Fox is excited about the first Central Open of the 2008 season and feels he has a reasonable chance to cash a check after the final weigh-in on Saturday.
“The fish are shallow, back in the warm (75 degree) and clearer backwaters off the main river. Some of them are on the beds but the water’s too dirty to sight fish for them. A few guys have been crankin’, but most of us are throwing spinnerbaits and flipping jigs.”I can’t say I’ve found a lot of bass, but the ones I have caught are good quality tournament fish. Most of them are biting a small 3/16-ounce spinnerbait that I can snake slowly around stumps, rocks and whatever else I can find. But, my bigger fish have all been caught on a 1/2-ounce Tru-Tungsten black and blue flipping jig I’m using around the wood.”Fox has a strategy … of sorts. He’ll make a long run to a couple of spots he’s found that have harbored keepers. If they bite his spinnerbait or jig that’s where he’ll stay, alternating between spots and lures. If they don’t, he’ll “just go fishing” and hope for the best.”I’m looking to get 5 to 7 quality bites every day. If I can do that, I’ll be satisfied. The other guys are mostly having the same problem. We can catch bass, but they don’t seem to be bunched up much. You know, we catch one or two here, one or two there. I don’t really think anyone’s found a solid pattern. If they have they aren’t talking about it. “Most of Fox’s bass have been in the 1 ½- to 3-pound range, although he did catch one 6-pounder on Monday. “Based on what I’m seeing, I’d say it’ll take around 40 pounds to win.”
The weather doesn’t seem to be much of a factor. It’s been overcast early in the morning and then sunny and hot later in the day. Heavy rains have interrupted that routine from time to time, however.”I don’t think the weather will matter much. It’s what it is and isn’t supposed to change a lot between now and the weekend,” he shrugs. “It’s not going to bother us.”
Red River follow-up: What happened with Fox?